Angela Hoeflich joins La Casa Norte’s executive team
By Anne Bowhay, Director, Grants and Communications
La Casa Norte’s new Director of Contract Management and Compliance began working here seven years ago, starting a career here with an unpaid internship.
Promoted to the executive team in February, Angela Hoeflich has managed government contracts for La Casa Norte since July 2021, when she joined the finance team led by Larry McKay. Larry was also promoted this month to Vice President, Finance and Operations, after four years of directing La Casa Norte’s finances.
Angela previously worked five years as the Executive Assistant, supporting the executive director and executive team while assisting with human resources.
Angela came to La Casa Norte in mid-2015, assigned to intern for several months with the development staff as it worked on the annual gala. At the time, she was finishing up a master’s degree in public administration at the University of Illinois Chicago.
Angela already earned a bachelor’s in elementary education from Bethel University in Indiana. After seven years of teaching, Angela decided to switch careers, pursuing graduate studies that focused on non-profit management. She was recommended to then-Executive Director Sol Flores by a professor who taught Angela grant writing.
“I always felt pulled to nonprofits and wanted to go that way. I feel like my gifts are in administration,” said Angela.
After she joined the staff, Angela assisted with a capital campaign and financing plans undertaken to build the Humboldt Park community center and Pierce House youth apartments. The $20 million complex opened in 2019.
In her current role overseeing government contracts, Angela manages $5.6 million in grant contracts from local, state, and federal agencies. With about 25 government grants under management at any time, Angela oversees grants that comprise about three-fourths of La Casa Norte’s annual revenue.
A recent state grant application secured $312,767 to fund a pilot at the Back of the Yards drop-in center for unaccompanied youth. The innovative pilot will offer anger management, therapeutic and support services to justice-involved youth. The program will serve about 75 youth working in cohorts of 10 to 15 youth, starting in March and running to mid-2024.
It's a good example of how La Casa Norte staff works together across departments to develop many of its grant proposals.
Drop-In Supervisor Erin Ellenbolt had hoped to start an anger management program for her youth clients, more than half of whom have been involved with the justice system. Some youth are required to take anger management training to complete probation, while some youth struggle to manage their behavior as they cope with homelessness. Erin had already researched a program structure and potential partners prior to Angela identifying the state grant opportunity last September.
Erin and Casa Corazón Manager Roy Higgs worked with Grants and Communications Manager Melanie Rockoff as she wrote the 27-page proposal content. Larry and Angela prepared an 18-month budget, and Angela edited and submitted the extensive proposal packet. The Illinois Department of Human Services notified Angela in mid-January that funding was approved.
Also in Angela’s portfolio, La Casa Norte was named a finalist for a city grant submitted last fall to create a non-congregate youth shelter with private bedrooms. Plans call for retooling an existing multi-unit building on Chicago’s South Side.
Angela is grateful for a position that’s “a really good fit” for her interests and skills while serving an organization with so much community impact.
“I can use the skills I have for something that really matters. Even if I’m not doing direct service, I know the work I do helps facilitate that,” Angela explained.
Pictured: Angela Hoeflich